We sure do love our teachers, as well as our favorite leader, Principal Nelson. If you were ever curious about their favorite things, then you have come to the right spot. We asked Principal Nelson and the teachers to share some things they like to do, eat and more so we could get to know them a little better, and perhaps this info may be helpful to know throughout the year. Do you have some of the same favorites?
Click on a name below to jump to the teacher you're curious about or scroll through to view all of them:
Kristen Nelson - Principal
Birthday: 11/17
Favorite holiday/season/time of year: Thanksgiving and winter
Favorite flower: Any and all
Favorite color: blue of course
Hobbies: gardening, riding my bike, exercising, hanging with friends and family, reading, and traveling
Favorite candle scents: Any and all
Favorite places to shop: Amazon
Favorite places to relax: Home and beach
Favorite places to dine: South of Nicks, Hendrix
Favorite breakfast and morning beverage: Anything with eggs and coffee or ice tea
Favorite lunch and beverage: salad and ice tea
Favorite snack/treat/dessert: nuts and raisins and granola bars
Maria Arbelo - 2nd Grade Teacher
Birthday: 9/17
Favorite holiday/season/time of year: My favorite time of year is any time that I am able to spend time with family and friends both near and far.
Favorite flower: My favorite flower is the plumeria.
Favorite color: My favorite color is purple.
Hobbies: My favorite thing to do in my free time is reading.
Favorite candle scents: My favorite candle scent is anything fruity.
Favorite places to shop: My favorite places to shop are Target and Loft.
Favorite places to relax: My favorite place to relax is in my backyard patio.
Favorite places to dine: Ooh so hard to decide. I do love eating! If I have to pick it would be anyplace that serves breakfast (my favorite meal of the day)!
Favorite breakfast and morning beverage: My favorite breakfast is something savory with something sweet like French toast and coffee is a must.
Favorite lunch and beverage: My favorite lunch is anything with fries :) and my beverage of choice for lunch would be any fruity lemonade.
Favorite snack/treat/dessert: Anything chocolate!
Other things that you love and think we should know about you: I feel so honored to be part of such an amazing learning community! I love being a teacher, students' laughter and joy is contagious!
Andrea Brannam - Kindergarten Teacher
Birthday: 2/27
Favorite holiday/season/time of year: Spring
Favorite flower: Daisies and succulents
Favorite color: Turquoise
Hobbies: Hiking, walks with friends, Bible study
Favorite candle scents: All the yummy smells
Favorite places to shop: Amazon, Target, Kohl’s, Dollar Tree
Favorite places to relax: The beach, Nail salon
Favorite places to dine: Cheesecake Factory, Panini Cafe, Shwack, sushi
Favorite breakfast and morning beverage: Sugar free black tea latte
Favorite lunch and beverage: Yummy salads, sparkling water
Favorite snack/treat/dessert: Nuts, dark chocolate, Keto friendly desserts
Other things that you love and think we should know about you: I love RH Dana! I love God! I collect Wonder Woman, class mascot is a monkey, I’m really trying to be healthy (minimal sugar and daily exercise).
Jody Cast - 2nd Grade Teacher
Birthday: 10/19
Favorite holiday/season/time of year: that's a hard one. Fall, Christmas
Favorite flower: peony
Favorite color: red and green
Hobbies: reading, hiking, surfing, camping
Favorite candle scents: pumpkin, peach, gardenia
Favorite places to shop: Anywhere on Del Mar, Tuvalu
Favorite places to relax: Mountains, beach, spa
Favorite places to dine: Beach Fire, Fisherman's, The Cellar, Sonny's, La Siesta
Favorite breakfast and morning beverage: Eggs, potatoes, yogurt, coffee with a little cream
Favorite lunch and beverage: chicken salad or soup and seltzer water
Favorite snack/treat/dessert: Doritos, nuts
Elizabeth Gabriel - 5th Grade Teacher
Birthday: 2/13
Favorite holiday/season/time of year: Spring
Favorite flower: Gerber daisy
Favorite color: Purple
Hobbies: Bodysurfing, Beach glass collecting, reading, gardening.
Favorite candle scents: Vanilla
Favorite places to shop: Target, Costco
Favorite places to relax: In nature
Favorite places to dine: Everywhere
Favorite breakfast and morning beverage: Bagels/coffee
Favorite lunch and beverage: Water
Favorite snack/treat/dessert: Chips/cookies
Lori Georgia - 3rd Grade Teacher
Birthday: 6/26
Favorite holiday/season/time of year: My favorite season is summer! I love the sunny skies, being outside, spending time at the beach and being with my family.
Favorite flower: I love all flowers, and don't have any particular "favorites", but my mom and I used to plant "Johnny Jump Ups" so those have a special place in my heart.
Favorite color: aqua
Hobbies: My hobbies include reading, working out, spending time with friends and family.
Favorite candle scents: I always go for the tropical, summery, beach or citrus type scents.
Favorite places to shop: My favorite places to shop are: GAP, Athleta, Stitch Fix, Pier 1, Costco
Favorite places to relax: My favorite places to relax are at the beach or on my comfy couch with a blanket.
Favorite places to dine: Luciana's, Thai Dara, Stuft Pizza, Agostino's, JFAT, Wind and Sea, Proud Mary's- so much great local food. As you can see, I like to eat!
Favorite breakfast and morning beverage: In the morning I like to drink coffee. I typically just have a banana or some yogurt and granola, but if I am splurging, I like to have a Coffee Importers California Bagel or a vegetarian breakfast burrito from anywhere.
Favorite lunch and beverage: My favorite lunch is a big salad filled with all kinds of yummy goodies or a veggie sandwich. I like to drink iced teas (black or green) or water.
Favorite snack/treat/dessert: A go-to snack for me at home is cheese and crackers, chips and salsa or guacamole, and popcorn. It's hard for me to pass up homemade baked goodies, especially if it's chocolate brownies. I also like ice cream.
Other things that you love and think we should know about you: I love teaching, and have taught at RH Dana since 1999. The children and families of our school have a special place in my heart. I enjoy trying new things, sports, traveling, and having adventures. I am a mom of three busy sons and my husband is a teacher at Dana Hills High School. I am an alumni of Dana Hills High and my parents still live in the area. I am looking forward to this school year and feel fortunate to be working with all the students and staff at RH Dana. Go Whales!
Meagan Gerlach - 3rd/4th Grade Teacher
Birthday: 11/25
Favorite holiday/season/time of year: Holiday- Christmas/ Season- summer
Favorite flower: Orchid
Favorite color: Blue
Hobbies: Spending time with my family, beach, hiking, Peloton
Favorite candle scents: Gardenia or Jasmine
Favorite places to shop: Nordstrom
Favorite places to relax: Beach
Favorite places to dine: Baja Fish Tacos, Coastal Kitchen, Jizake
Favorite breakfast and morning beverage: Croissant and a chai tea latte
Favorite lunch and beverage: Carne Asada Salad & Diet Coke
Favorite snack/treat/dessert: Dark chocolate
Geraldine Jacome - 1st Grade Teacher
Birthday: 2/14
Favorite holiday/season/time of year: Fall
Favorite flower: Hydrangea
Favorite color: purple
Hobbies: painting, hiking, decorating
Favorite candle scents: lavender
Favorite places to shop: Trader Joe, Target
Favorite places to relax: beach or forest
Favorite places to dine: Maison Cafe
Favorite breakfast and morning beverage: sourdough bread and coffee
Favorite lunch and beverage: salad water
Favorite snack/treat/dessert: nuts, dark chocolate, fruit tart
Other things that you love and think we should know about you: I love school, children's books, and learning
Miss Moreno - 2nd Grade Teacher
Birthday: 8/13
Favorite holiday/season/time of year: Christmas/Winter
Favorite flower: Marigolds/Roses
Favorite color: Purple
Hobbies: hiking/Disneyland
Favorite candle scents: Tropical/Coconut
Favorite places to shop: Disney/Starbucks
Favorite places to relax: Beach/Nature
Favorite places to dine: Italian/Mexican food
Favorite breakfast and morning beverage: Starbucks/Bagels
Favorite lunch and beverage: Chicken/Raspberry Iced Tea
Favorite snack/treat/dessert: Brownies/Cookies
Other things that you love and think we should know about you: Love Disneyland and love to go places where I can spend time with family.
Sue Paradise - Kindergarten Teacher
Birthday: 12/17
Favorite holiday/season/time of year: Christmas
Favorite flower: Peonies & Lilacs
Favorite color: Purple
Hobbies: Cooking, baking, traveling & crafts
Favorite candle scents: Vanilla & Floral
Favorite places to shop: Dollar Tree, Marshall's, T.J. Maxx & Homegoods
Favorite places to relax: Spa or Beach
Favorite places to dine: Casanova's, Lupe's or South of Nicks
Favorite breakfast and morning beverage: Toasted Everything Bagel w/cc & non-fat latte
Favorite lunch and beverage: Salad & Iced Tea
Favorite snack/treat/dessert: Popcorn & anything chocolate
Shirley Poster - 4th Grade Teacher
Birthday: 6/30
Favorite holiday/season/time of year: Christmas/ summer time!
Favorite flower: Anemone
Favorite color: Purple/aqua
Hobbies: Going to lake MV, swimming, reading, nature walks
Favorite candle scents: Something floral or stress relief from b&bw
Favorite places to shop: Target
Favorite places to relax: Near water, anywhere with a cup of coffee
Favorite breakfast and morning beverage: Iced coffee, bagels
Favorite lunch and beverage: Iced coffee, turkey sandwich
Favorite snack/treat/dessert: Red velvet
Other things that you love and think we should know about you: Manatees